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Broad in the beam

Meaning

Having wide hips or buttocks.

Origin

This phrase derives from the nautical term beam - the widest point of a ship. Beam is first recorded in Captain John Smith's invaluable record of early seafaring terms - The Seaman's Grammar, 1627:

"Suppose a Ship of 300. Tunnes be 29 foot at the Beame."

The figurative use of beam referring to people's hips came into being in the 20th century. An early citation of that comes in Hugh Walpole's Hans Frost, 1929:

"He stood watching disgustedly Bigges' broad beam."

See other Nautical Phrases.

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The meaning and origin of the expression: Broad in the beam

Broad in the beam

Meaning

Origin